Saudi Arabia is to allow its women athletes to compete in the Olympics for the first time.
A statement from the Saudi Embassy in London says the country’s Olympic Committee will “oversee participation of women athletes who can qualify” as reported in the BBC news portal on Sunday 24 June.
It further says that the decision will end recent speculation as to whether the entire Saudi team could have been disqualified on grounds of gender discrimination.
The public participation of women in sport is still fiercely opposed by many Saudi religious scholars says the report.
There is almost no public tradition of women participating in sport in the country.
Saudi officials say that with the Games now just a few weeks away, the only female competitor at Olympic standard is showjumper Dalma Rushdi Malhas.
But they added that there may be scope for others to compete and that if successful they would be dressed “to preserve their dignity”.